12=1

Dear Cade,

You turned one not too long ago . . . And it seems not that long ago that you were born. So many changes in your short life, and this is only the beginning.

You are walking, saying new words all the time, and starting to get an attitude. You went through a lot this last month, tubes in your ears, one year shots, and way more teeth.

Loving how you are growing and changing. You are going to be a great big brother!

Love, Mom and Dad

11 Months

Dear Cade,

Monday you turned 11 months old. Let me just let that sink in for a minute. 11 months you have been on this planet.

You are doing all sorts if things. You love to throw balls, roll cars, destroy all paper, and stand. You are almost walking. You stand and take two steps and sit down like you don't believe you really can do such a thing as walking. You are in a class with all walkers and you keep up with them fine pushing toys. You are such a fast crawler I don't think you feel the need to walk. You also got your first hair cut this month and you went from baby to 35 year old in minutes.

Things we hear from your teacher:
Was the first to welcome a new friend.
Always loves to hug his friends.
Cade loves to smile and laugh.
I asked him where the ball was and he took it out of my hand.
Showed him how to put the ball in the basket and he did it on the first try.
Had trouble getting him to take a nap.

That last one is pretty standard for you. No one can really get you to take a nap.

You are changing and growing so fast before our eyes. I love the boy you are growing into.

Love Mom and Dad-O

Cade and A

The latest comment from daycare on Cade and A:

Cade is such a good friend. He kept hugging and patting A on the back when he was crying.

Friends

Cade has a friend at daycare. Not sure you could say that 9 month olds could be friends already, but they hang well together. This was on Cade's paper today:

Cade loves playing with A so much, he kept trying to wake him up when A was sleeping on the cot. So cute how well those two get along.

9 Months

Dear Cade,

You turned 9 months old today. Things in our family occur in roughly 9 month intervals (to this point) your dad and I met, 9 months later we were married, 9 months after that I found out I was pregnant, and then 9 months after that you were born. Now that you are 9 months old we are trying to figure out what I am going to be when I grow up (that could be our next 9 month interval thing or maybe something else).

You have sure been on the move this month! Your crawling is at an all time high speed. It takes some running to catch up. You also think it is a great game to be chased and have learned to fake us out on whether or not you are done crawling or which direction you are going to go. You love to stand and cruise a little, but you can get where you want to go faster by crawling so that is still your go to mode of transportation. Anything you play with has to make noise . . . a lot of noise. You generally migrate to the hard surfaces in the house and bang hard toys or coasters, or spoons, or watering cans, or phones, or books - whatever you can find that will make noise. You also really like pushing things around as you crawl. I hear you like to play with one of your friends at daycare. You love to play hide and seek with him usually just peaking out from where you are and laughing.

We went on your first vacation this month, and you met a ton of cousins you never even knew existed.

Can't wait to see what the next month (and 9) hold.

Love Mom and Dad

Vacation!

Taking awhile to get some pictures up, but we went on vacation.  Estes Park, Colorado for some fun, cool temperatures, and much needed family time.  I have quite a few pictures, but not sure who cares if they, or their children are on the internet to strangers.  Spent some time in Rocky Mountain National Park, fishing for trout (Adam caught one), visiting the Stanley Hotel, and spending time in hammocks. 

2/3rds of the way to 1

Dear Cade,

You turned 8 months old over the weekend. There are days when it feels like forever and then there are those where I feel like it was just last week that we brought you home and I was freaking out about taking care of you and what that all meant.

You are really doing a lot of moving and talking. We don't have a clue what you are saying but you are telling us all your thoughts (keep that up). Not only are you crawling now, but you are pulling up to stand and trying to move once standing. You are so strong! A lot of the time you use your arms as well as you face to get standing. I don't get it, but if it works for you then go for it. You don't nap much at daycare so we spend much of the work week with you sleeping when you get home. We might get 30 minutes of play time out of you, but that is ok, it won't last forever. You so have started crying when I leave you at daycare, or even sometimes when I leave the room. I tell you where I am going and when I will be back every time and you still cry. Hoping this is a brief time for that because it kills me every morning. Not sure if it is just your stage for separation anxiety, or if it is because you are so tired.

Still always smiling (when we are in the room) and playful. We are getting ready to go on our first long road trip and vacation next week. I am anxious about how you will do for so long in the car. You will probably do fine, it is just the not knowing that is hard.

We love you more every day and more than we ever thought our hearts could hold!
Love Mom and Dad

The changing face

The debate rages on who Cade looks like the most. I don't have an opinion, but I can say he is so dang cute. He is a lot of fun too, and if he would just nap at daycare we could have more fun in the evenings instead of play time being a morning and weekend activity.

Lucky Number 7

Cade,

You turned 7 months old last week, and we can't believe how you have grown and changed.

You are a talker! I don't mean you talk some, you talk A LOT! You are almost always babbling-when you are playing, when you are eating, when you are getting changed, even as you are waking up. Not only are you talking you are making all kinds of noises, mostly growling. You growl at the things you love the most. You growl at your dad and I before you give us kisses and you growl at all your favorite toys, and of course Addie. You are pretty much enamored with Addie, and I think she might be with you. Never thought that would happen. Maybe it was all the treats we gave her while we were holding you when we brought you home.

You got your first tooth last week, crawled one crawl step, and jump like crazy. You are so close to crawling for real and standing.

I don't take as many pictures as I should, but I find myself most says just watching you and taking it all in.

Super Size Me

Cade doesn't play much with his hanging toys anymore.  I guess with the rolling and the sitting and the sreaching he isn't all that into it anymore.  On Saturday he was playing on the floor and rolled over to the mat with the hanging toys and started playing with all of them.  So I pulled the mat out into the middle of the floor for him and he got inside.  I was amazed at the difference from when he started playing in there a few months ago (6 to be exact).

Half Way There

Cade,

We have reached the half way point to this think we call your first year of life.  I'm pretty sure I say this every time, but I can't believe it has been 6 months.  You sure are growing a lot.  Just in size (for those of you keeping score of that stuff) you are:

28 1/4 inches long
19.5 lbs
16 7/8 inches around your head

What is interesting, to me, about these numbers is that your height is in the 98th percentile.  That means off 100 6 month old babies you are taller than 98 of them!  Way to get to the head of the class on that one.  But your head, now you head is a completely different matter.  It is in the 25-50 th percentile.  Two things stick out to me about that.  1: That is a big spread of 25%, and 2: going from 98% down to 25% is a big difference in averages.  Hats around here are pretty small anyway, so I guess you come by it honestly.

You are doing so many new things now.  You are turning over every which way, and you scoot and roll to get from point A to point B.  You get up on your hands and knees to crawl but you don't go anywhere and that, of course, makes you irritated.  You sit pretty well when we set you up and you smile at everyone.

I thought I might have something profound to say tonight but I don't.  I am just in awe of you every day.

Love Mom and Dad

5 Months

Cade,

Has it really just been a little over a week since I wrote your 4 month letter?  You would think that I wouldn't really have much to add in your last week of life, but I DO!  I don't know about writing this letter to you because I debate on whether or not I really want to remember it or share it with you.  This last week and a half has been one of the longest weeks of our lives.  You got sick.  Not just a little sick, but really sick. 

Saturday April 14 we took you to the doctor.  You had a slight fever and weren't acting yourself.  You were on the tale end of an antibiotic for an ear infection so I worried about the fever.  They looked at your ears, your nose, your eyes, and throat, they even took blood for a white blood cell count.  All was fine, it was probably a coincidental virus that had nothing to do with the medicine you were finishing up.

First Visit - two pricked fingers and one helpful Doug

Sunday April 15 I called the nurse line.  You didn't have much of a fever anymore but you were not a happy guy any of Saturday night or Sunday.  Operating on the lack of fever and word from the day before the nurse on the line said you were probably teething due to your increased saliva.  You fight every teething ring, cold wet rag and most food.

Sunday to Tuesday: Not happy doing all we can to make you comfortable as those nonexistent teeth come in

Monday April 16-Tuesday 17 I wait out what I guess is incoming teeth as you refuse any teething rings, won't eat, and are pretty much mad all the time. 

Wednesday April 18 you wake up with your eyes pretty much glued shut with some sort of gunk.  I know this is an indication to go back to the doctor.  Guess what?  You have a horrible ear infection.  Explains the not eating and unhappiness of the last 4 days.  Start on a different antibiotic and sent on our way. 

Thursday April 19 you are almost yourself again and we are so excited.  Stay home another day to get rid of the eye gunk and other symptoms.

Feeling better!

Friday April 20 (are you seeing a trend yet?) I go back to work in Woodward, no less (2.5 hours away) and you go back to daycare.  I get a call about 2 hours after your dad dropped you off that you are not well and we have to come get you.  Your dad spends the day with you and I return late Friday night to a grumpy boy, but tolerable, thinking we should have given you another rest day and that would be all you needed.

Saturday April 21 wake up with another fever this time higher than before and a cough that won't quit.  Well the cough started Thursday night but it got worse over Friday night.  Back to the doctor thinking another coincidental virus on top of all the other things going on.  It is a virus, a pneumonia virus.  We spend 2 hours at the doctors office while they poke, x-ray, get a shot and vaporize you.  One up side to the visit, I got to take the x-ray!  Your Granpa George and Gibby were in for a visit too, so the afternoon was spent sleeping on some one different about every hour.  By the evening you were better and by Sunday even more so.

Finally home from the doctor round 3

Sunday April 22 more of the same happier boy, another visit another shot.

Monday April 23 a little happier, back to the doctor for a check on the progress.  No shot but now over the counter medicines on top of the breathing treatments you have been doing since Saturday. 

Tuesday April 24 gear up for the last day at home.  You are pretty much yourself with a little bit of a nagging cough and irritability when you wear down faster than normal.

Wednesday April 25!  You are back at daycare, I am back at work, and so far I haven't been called!  You still have a cough hanging around, but it isn't bad and you pretty much spit out half of your medicines and cry through your whole breathing treatments, but I don't care you are getting better and you are BACK!

Milestones of the last week - you freely roll from your back to your stomach and back again.  I will look down to read something and look up and you have rolled half way across the room.  Outlook is not good for when you start crawling and I will never be able to look away again.  Still only turn to the left, never to the right. 




Love Mom and Dad

Four Months . . . and Counting

Dear Cade,

I have learned I am not very good at this blogging about your life thing.  I guess Facebook and the ease of smart phones have made it so that I can share things at a touch of the button rather than log on and write.  But I like writing to you and I miss it when I don't. 

Your fourth month (and then some) on this planet has been a lot of fun.  You are starting to show your personality a little bit more I think.  You are always happy and ready with a smile.  I say always, but any parent knows that always is a lie, but for you I would put it in the most all of the time category.  You do have your moments, but some have been found to say that your bad day is better than some babies good days. 

I don't know what we ever did with ourselves before you were here with us - you have stolen our hearts. 

Some milestones for this month and change are rolling over, trying to crawl but more like inch along until you get mad and we have to hit the reset button by putting you on your back, you have developed a squeal, you laugh (something we knew was in there but know you actually make noise), you sleep through the night better than before, started some rice cereal on your fourth month birthday, some good hand control (you don't have it down yet, but you are really getting there), you are almost sitting up on your own, and you always make us smile.

Your measurements on April 4th when I got you in for your 4 month check up:
Height: 26 1/2 inches
Weight 18 lbs 8 oz
Head: 16 3/4 inches

You are in the 95% for your height and weight and everyone mistakes you for a 6 month old.  

We love you very much!

Mom

Three Months Old

Dear Cade,

You turned three months old last week.  We celebrated by hanging out at home while you were sick.  But that is OK, it was nice to take some time out and spend it at home.  Speaking of spending time at home, this month I started back to work and you started daycare.  Our 10 weeks of home time came to an end.  Talk about a mix of emotions.  I was excited to get back to work, but sad to have to leave you with someone else in the day time.  I find myself still struggling with the decision - I guess it is the eternal problem of the working mom, oh the guilt.  I did have a break through last week.  I feel guilty because I can't stay home with you and that I didn't try harder to be with you in the day - but seeing you last week at daycare I realized that these women can do a lot for you and your development and learning that I can not.  I miss you in the day, but I am happy knowing you are with people who care about you. 

Not to brag or anything (because I really don't have anything to do with it) but they love you at daycare.  It seems like everyday there is someone telling me how much they love to sub in your room at lunch, or how they love it when I bring him in early enough for them to watch before his teacher gets in.  On Friday I walked in to see someone who was happy to finally have her time with you for the day.  Pretty much the same way when we pick you up from Sunday school.

You are growing and changing all the time.  You have learned what your hands are and what you can do with them, you are always smiling and talking, and you are mostly sleeping through the night (or as close to it as possible).  My favorite new thing you do is your bubble blowing.  While you concentrate on things you start blowing bubbles. 

Cade, we love you very much - and look forward to each new day.  We never know how you are going to amaze us every morning when we wake up. 

Love Dad and Mom

Can You Say Weed? (as in growing like)

1 Week Old: 21 inches 8 lbs 1 oz

One Month Old: 22 1/4 inches 10 lbs 11 oz

2 Months Old: 24 inches 13 lbs 14.8 oz

Month 2

Dear Cade,


Today you are two months old.  You are constantly growing and changing and amazing all of us.  You are holding your head up, smiling, "talking" watching everything, and constantly moving.  You talk and move even in your sleep causing me to wonder daily if I should call the doctor because I think you are in pain or something.  You aren't, you are just busy.  We are in trouble when you start becoming mobile - and we are going to love every minute of it. 

Your personality is starting to shine through - you are all smiles, and chat anyone up who will listen.  We fall deeper and deeper in love with the boy God made you to be, and I can't wait to see how you will grow up.  Yesterday we took you to your cousin's basketball game.  For the entire game you were focused on the court, soaking in all the action.  Afterward you were telling us all about it.

I was listening to the song My Sweet, My Lovely by Plumb the other day and a line from it really struck me and made me think of you:

I stare into
The bluest eyes
Time stands still in
Your smile
You weren't there
And now you're here

I dreamed of you
But I never know how...sweet and lovely

We lived over 30 years without you around, and now it seems like you have always been a part of our lives.  You weren't here - but now you are, we didn't know a part of us was missing until you showed up.

 

Brag on Dad

It is time for a new segment I will be calling Brad on Dad, it will be to . . . brag on Adam.  Some brags will be current, others will be a general overview of what Adam does that is great on a daily basis.

This weeks segment comes from this past Tuesday night.  Adam came home earlier than normal and had Cade for the evening while I went to my small group.  When I came home Cade was in his pajamas - but that is not all, the dishwasher was running, the bottles from the day were all clean, Cade had eaten and had a bath!  He got more done in 2 hours than I can get done all day! 

One Month (and then some)

Dear Cade,

You are a little over one month old.  On your month "birthday" you had an appointment to check you over and see how much you have grown (and my how you did grow).  Your weight is now 10 lbs 11 oz almost 2 lbs more than your birth weight and almost 3 lbs more than your weight 4 days after your birth.  Your height is now 22 1/4 inches, 1 1/4 more than birth.  You have to be growing because you are eating like crazy, and all that food has to be going somewhere. 

We are all settling in quite well around here, and so far God has protected you from our ignorance!  After living the first week I wasn't sure we were all going to make it, that maybe you and your dad would be doing this on your own, but I made a comeback and we are all three running the race quite well.  You have changed so much in the last 5 weeks!  Not only are you getting bigger but you do something new on a daily basis.  Holding your head up, following us with your eyes, finding yourself in a mirror, knowing who we are, smiling at us, and turning your head while on your stomach are just a few of the things we have noticed about you lately.  You are almost able to push up and any day now I expect to see you off an running.  You are already living up to your name which means: small battle or spirit of the battle.  In hindsight might not have been the best to chose, but I already see some of that in how you exhibit some stubbornness with us at times (don't know WHERE you would get that trait from).   

I never knew that life could feel like it is going by so fast and so slow at the same time, and that I could function just as well on a few hours of sleep that I do on 10!  

We love you and every day is a new joy,
Love Mom